One of the best organized events I ever participated in. That’s the Operation Pheasant 2024 gravel ride, orgnised by my friends Jasper and Bjorn under operatiefazant.nl. The route is inspired by Dutch liberation and the journey of our liberators. The idea was to spend a day “in the wheel” of those we need to be grateful to. Especially relevant now, so many years later.
The route was a little wet and tough but took us past some memorable Dutch WOll sights. The start was already historically relevant with the old barracks of Fort Isabella in Vught. From here the route goes into a far eastern loop before returning back to the same place. One of the highlights is the defense canal at Mill that goes for kilometers next to this fortified canal. You closely pass many bunkers along these scenic kilometers.
The count of historic monuments goes up to at least ten monuments and more if you take your time and deviate a bit. Think of railway bridges and the German (Peel – Raam) line nicknamed the Asparagus barrier near Boxtel. You pass the Eerde windmill where you find a memorial museum for the 501st parachute infantry regiment, the spitfire monument near Schijndel and much more. All of them are beautifully connected with gravel roads and forest- or farm tracks.
If you’re into gravel riding and combining your rides with a historical WOll theme, I highly recommend the other routes by operatiefazant.nl. They regularly organize new events, so follow their socials and stay tuned for more!
Operatie Fazant is a cycling initiative from Noord-Brabant that brings history to life through sport. By riding carefully designed gravel routes inspired by Operation Pheasant, cyclists experience the landscapes, stories, and freedom connected to the WWII liberation of the region, combining remembrance, adventure, and cultural heritage in one project.
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